Happy Holidays
From The Rowes At The North Pole

Happy Holidays from Mojave, Piper, & Sierra Elves

Happy Holidays from Avery & Kate Elves

(the girls insisted on these variations today, and could barely stop watching them)

It's 2008 Already!?

Yes, we're still here & kickin'. We've been so busy the last few weeks it's been impossible to keep up on the blog. Mostly because I was focusing on & enjoying the moments, and not writing about them. So in that way the silence has been good. Thanks for hanging in there with us.

So, lets see, what's all happened:

• Jordan had a very uneventful trip to the geneticist, who once again shook his head & said he didn't know what to look for next. Of course I had a few ideas, so she will have another blood test in the new year (for CDG). We'll see. . . .
• Avery & I went to grandpa Gary's house for 4 days before Christmas. Aunt Jill was visiting from Alaska, and seemed to bring the weather with her -- lots of snow, and even a 4 hour power outage. Uncle Jon Paul did lots of snow plowing over those 4 days, and Avery was always ready to head out to play in the snow. Aunt Jill & aunt Jessie even helped her make "Frosty Crusty" the snowman (Jill wanted to call it Crusty, but Avery had her heart set on Frosty, so they compromised).
• When we got home on the 20th, grandpa Earl & grandma Linda were here for a visit before heading south in their RV for the next few months. We celebrated Avery's 4th birthday on the 22nd with swimming at her favorite pool, and lunch at her favorite restaurant (Sweet Tomatoes). This was for family (including Kelly & Kate of course), as we're saving the "kids' party" for 4-1/2, in June).
• Jordan actually fought off a viral infection (along with a super high fever), and didn't even need to go to the "Hotel Emanuel." We spent Avery's birthday morning at the doctor's office, and Christmas Eve morning at the lab & on the pediatric floor (4 hours for 3 ml. of blood). But, no ERs and no admits, which I consider a milestone! And despite the sickness & the fever, we still haven't seen any seizures, she continues to amaze us with sucking, tracking, and even smiling here and there. She's doing great!
• We had a wonderful Christmas Eve of "make your own pizza" with grandma Linda, grandpa Earl, nana Noma, Kelly, Ed, & Kate. The girls got to open a couple of presents, and they loved the most their ducky backpacks for "school." In fact, we had to drag them away from "school" and backpacks to get them to open some of their other presents.
• Avery was very relieved on Christmas morning that Santa had made it. Of course none of us caught him, thankfully we were all sleeping hard so we were rested for the day. He brought Jordan a stocking and some gifts, too, and left a note that the girls should share. Avery has really taken that to heart, and saved the note in one of the books that came in her stocking.
• On Saturday we had the neighbors over for wine & cheese, and sneaked in a tray of chocolate cupcakes for Jordan's second birthday on Sunday. Jordan's second birthday was a real milestone for us, since many of her doctors have said since the beginning that she wouldn't make it to 2! But here she is, and she's doing better now than she has been for months. We don't know what the future will hold, but we do have a special appreciation for what we have had for the last 2 years -- the good & the bad.
  
• Devon and I celebrated our 7th anniversary last night in the city -- dinner, dessert, fancy hotel. And best of all, an 80 GB ZUNE! It was sooooooo time to update the music situation in this house. It should only take us ~6 months to get all of our CDs copied on to that thing, but luckily we can listen to the radio in the mean time.

Of course, pictures to come!

And it hardly needs to be said -- HAPPY 2008!

"Wise King" Avery

Avery, Kate, & their classmates at pre-school had their Christmas Program on Friday afternoon. First they did their caroling, then Avery got to be a "Wise King" in the Nativity portion of the program. Why are they usually referred to as the 3 "wisemen" -- except in the song "We Three Kings. . . " Anyway, she did a great job, as did all the children, and we really enjoyed it.

Kate is in the 2nd row up on the left, Avery on the right (with Jayda in between them)

Soon the carolers were joined by singing trees and SantasThe after-school kids participated, too.
The nativity scene
Wise King Avery peeks out from behind an angelKate after the program
Best friends relaxing after their first performance

A Visit To Nana Noma's

Kelly took me to a Portland on Friday to rent a lens for my camera. I went with a 300 mm lens, and had fun "playing" with it for the weekend. I didn't really like the pics until I downloaded them, and then found that some were actually okay. But I don't think I'll be running out to buy one any day soon.

Nana Noma's Christmas Tree. We brought it back from the forest last weekend, and Avery decorated it almost all herself -- including the rolls of ribbon she strung around it. Not too bad for a 3 year old. Nana Noma must have done the top ornaments & star (with a ladder, of course). [personal lens]
Uh-huh. See what the T-shirt says: Good thing Avery's no good at keeping secrets -- yet. . . .
("What happens at grandma's stays at grandma's")Zoom timeBath time with Avery & the toys
And here are a few more from around the town: Kellly, Kate, & Ed's dog Piperpart of a pergola at dusk -- no editing (I loved the colors)
A squirrel in Kelly's tree. I couldn't even see it when I took the shot, but I got it! Also taken at dusk. Mt. Hood
Sierra watching the tiling team downstairs -- obviously it wasn't particularly thrilling, at least if you're a cat

Around The House

Here are a few pictures from around the house the last few days.

Jordan doing her "exercises" -- lifting up her head and sucking on her hand. Avery wanted in the pics (she's so fickle with that!)
Devon has started tiling the floor in the basement, a few tiles at a time. Avery was there to help, with her own (plastic) tool set, and a bag full of spacers that she was in charge of handing to him. We had snow on Sunday -- too bad it didn't stick. Avery was all ready to go sledding at the first sight of it.

Christmas At The Fort

Fort Vancouver (Washington), that is. Or, as Avery kept calling it, "the tent." Just a little glitch in vocabulary for an almost-4-year-old. I thought it was sweet.

Fort Vancouver is a National Historic Site, and was once part of the Hudson's Bay Company. During the holiday season the volunteers dress up & provide lots of trading-life activities for kids. Avery got to play with toys, and even make a few (a top, a strawberry pin cushion/tree ornament, and a holly wreath). We climbed to the top of the bastion, and listened to bag pipers playing Christmas songs. Jordan tagged along in the backpack, which she really seems to enjoy these day. And of course, I had my camera. Here are a few of my favorites from the day, but I also set up an album to save space.

The first (and only) picture using the timer on my new camera-- and it wasn't too bad, either!

Mt HoodAvery made a holly wreath, but it was "too pokey" for her to wear. Devon was a trouper.
Jordan, however, wasn't a fan of the wreath, either.